STO. NINO FLUVIAL PARADE 2011 IN GENERAL SANTOS CITY

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     Fluvial parade?  What is it? Fluvial means found in water or stream  while parade  means an organized procession of people celebrating a special occasion and often includes decorated vehicles or floats. To sum it all, fluvial parade is a procession of people celebrating a special occasion riding or aboard in boats or ships.

     Fluvial parade 2011 for Sr. Sto Nino at Bula, General  Santos City  is a long wait celebration for all catholic devotees celebrating the fiesta of   the saint  every  15th of January.  The celebration started with a morning mass at Bula Parish Church then followed by a procession of the little black Sto Nino going to General Santos City  Queen Tuna Park (previously known as Lion's Beach) where throngs of people gathered. From there , the amphibian vehicle transport the image of Sto. Nino  to the carrier vessel "Golden Sea " owned by Mr. Larry and Aurea Damalerio.

     The arrival and acceptance of  the image of Sr. Sto Nino aboard "Golden Sea" is memorable for me and I consider myself  lucky  to be given the privilege to witness the undying faith of people to the little Sto  Nino. You can see the glow on people's faces  sharing an atmosphere  of happiness within as the image  been accepted and carried and lodged in for awhile.in "Golden Sea".  Although I'm used to participate on most of the  fluvial parades with my husband and children aboard participating boats and vessels  but my experience this fluvial  parade 2011 is remarkable one.  My first time to be in fluvial parade with  Sr.Sto. Nino in same vessel.

As everybody see, the patron saint Sr. Sto Nino has a special place on the vessel's deck.. The platform is elevated and nicely decorated with fresh flowers  and the saint's image is in the center. (See pictures i have taken  from my camera)

Then the fluvial  parade started from  Queen tuna park beach where hundreds of fishing vessels, boats, bancas in different sizes paraded   following  "Golden Sea ", the image carrier, who leads the journey.

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     The fluvial parade is a solemn one, novena is being chant on air. Much more when the gozos is being sang. you will feel how the people of God seek His mercy. I always recall this lines, a very touching one..if you  sing this through  the heart , you will really cry.. " Kanamo malooy ka unta  nga Kanimo nangilaba...Kanamo malooy ka unta nga Kanimo nangilaba..."     where devotees waved their handkerchiefs. on air. Then after ,  the sinulog dance started  accompanied by the sinulog music beat  played on air. While  dance ongoing , foods  were served to visitors  and guest aboard . This time I have a chance to roam around and  got these memorable pics.. The parade still proceeding   going to the designated area  of Sarangani Bay . Here , lots of fishing vessels , boats and bancas  on the go just behind the carrier vessel..of  the Sto Nino.

     As soon as the carrier vessel reaches the designated area of the bay, it  slows down and made a U turn   which means that the fluvial parade is up to that part only and have to return back to Queen tuna park beach . All vessels follows upon seeing Golden Sea made a U turn.  Few minutes then ,after the arrival of the vessel at the beach,  the decorated amphibian vehicle could be seen approaching the carrier vessel of the image. Then it shipsided and the image is then transported back going to the Parish  Church of Bula.   VIVA PIT SENOR!!